Metallic component for intrauterine contraceptive device

ABSTRACT

An intrauterine contraceptive device having a loop that is normally closed during use and when properly positioned within the uterus but capable of opening when not properly positioned within the uterus. A metallic component which may form a part of the releasable structure of the loop enhances the contraceptive effect of the device.

States Patent [72] Inventor Ralph R. Robinson P.O. Box 668, Middlesboro,Ky. 40965 [21 Appl. No. 790,271

[22] Filed Jan. 10, 1969 [45] Patented Apr. 27, 1971 [73] Assignee [54]METALLIC COMPONENT FOR INTRAUTERINE CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICE 9 Claims, 6Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 128/130, A61l 5/46 Field of Search 128/ l 28,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 982,996 1/1911 Rowell128/130 3,291,125 12/1966 Robinson 128/130 3,467,087 9/1969 Lebech eta1. 128/130 Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson,l-lovey & Williams ABSTRACT: An intrauterine contraceptive device havinga loop that is normally closed during use and when properly positionedwithin the uterus but capable of opening when not properly positionedwithin the uterus. A metallic component which may form a part of thereleasable structure of the loop enhances the contraceptive elfect ofthe device.

PATENTED m2? WI 3; 576; 186

INVENTOR Ralph R. Roblnaon METALLIC COMPONENT FOR IN'I'RAU'I'ERINECONTRACEPTIVE DEVICE Intrauterine devices for use as contraceptives aretoday widely accepted because of their effectiveness and safety. One ofthe few reasons, however, for their not meeting with complete andunqualified approval is the rare possibility of potential injuryresulting from inexpert and highly negligent insertion procedures.Extremely limited reports have been made of lodgement of the devicewithin the abdominal cavity at the time of insertion as the result ofsuch negligence. In such rare instances, the use of a closed loop in thedevice could result in an intestinal block which might not easily bediscovered and result in dangerous consequences.

It is an important object of my present invention, therefore, to providean intrauterine contraceptive device which retains the advantages of theclosed loop principle, while at the same time, presenting an open loopin the event of lodgement of the device in the abdominal cavity as aresult of accidental penetration into such cavity during negligentinsertion of the device into the uterus.

Another important object of the instant invention is to enhance thecontraceptive effect of an intrauterine device by the inclusion of ametal component as a part thereof.

Still another important object of my instant invention is to include themetal component as a part of a releasable coupling which maintains theloop closed throughout the time the device is operably located withinthe uterus.

My U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,234,938, 3,291,125 and 3,364,927 are incorporatedherein by reference as may be necessary or desirable for a full andclear understanding of the instant invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of an intrauterinedevice made pursuant to my present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. I on a reduced scaleillustrating the device in place within the uterus;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a fragnentary, front elevational view of a second form of myinstant invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the form of theinvention in FIG. 4 on a reduced scale within the uterus; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Device I6 is constructed of a resilient, yet pliable material and isdesigned for insertion into the uterus 12 by tubular means, such as thattaught in my above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 3,234,938. The uterinecavity I4 is defined by uterine walls l6, l8 and 20 with fallopian tubes22 and 24 communicating with the cavity 14. Disposed at the zone ofcommunication are mouths 26 and 28 of the tubes 22 and 24, respectively.The cervix 30 communicates with the other end of cavity 14, with theuterus mouth 32 disposed therebetween.

Device comprises a generally U-shaped loop 34 having a bight 36 fordisposition across the cervix and a pair of arms 38 and 40 extendingupwardly from the bight 36. Each arm 38 and 40 has an upper head 42 and44, respectively, for disposition in the mouths 26 and 28, respectively.A portion 46 of arm 38 and a similar portion 48 of arm 40 are bulgedoutwardly and disposed to extend upwardly from bight 36 for engagementwith the uterus I2 at respective zones of engagement 56 and 52 on walls16 and 18.

Arm 38 has a bend 54 disposed between portion 46 and head 42, and anoutwardly bowed flute 56 disposed between bend 54 and head 42.Similarly, arm 40 has a bend 58 located between portion 48 and head 44,and a flute 60 disposed between bend 58 and head 44. As illustrated inFIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the device It) may be structured such that arms 38and 40 are nonnally separated slightly at bends 54 and 58 such that agap 62 is presented therebetween.

Subjacent the bight 36 on arms 38 and 40 at bends 54 and 58 is structurein the nature of a pair of bands 64 and 66 for preventing overlappingand crossing of the arms 38 and 40 in around arm 40 and has aprotuberance 68 projecting outwardly from band 66 into the gap 62. Theband 64 fits tightly about arm 38 and presents protuberance-receivingmeans in the form of an opening through band 64 which directlycommunicates with a cavity 72 in the arm 38.

In use, the device 10 may be inserted into the uterus by tubular meansas hereinabove mentioned, with arms 38 and 40 compressed against oneanother in the inserter with protuberance 68 engaging opening 70 andcavity 72. Once inside the uterus, the device 10 is expelled from theinserter and assumes the position shown in FIG. 2 with the bands 62 and66 remaining engaged.

During uterine contraction, the uterus walls 16 and 18 move toward oneanother and portions 46 and 48 being flexible, will be pushed inwardly.As a result of this action, additional surface area along portions 46and 48 will come into engagement with walls 16 and 18. Since the arms 38and 40 are restrained from overlapping one another, the engagement ofprotuberance 68 and cavity 72 creates a fulcrum effect at the bends 54and 58 which acts on the arms 38 and 40 to cause heads 42 and 44 to beurged laterally outwardly and into mouths 26 and 28. Thus, thepossibilities of expelling device 10 become minimized during suchcontractions of the uterus I2.

On rare occasions sufficient force might be exerted to push the device10 completely through the uterine wall 20 upon expulsion of the devicefrom the tubular inserter. Should this occur, the lack of surfaceengagement between portions 46 and 48 and the uterine walls 18 and 20would allow the arms 38 and 40 to spring back slightly at bends 54 and58 with protuberance 68 becoming disengaged with cavity 72. With thearms 38 and 40 resuming their natural positions as shown in FIG. I, thegap 62 would be reestablished and an open 'loop presented which wouldless easily become entangled with the intestines.

It is important at this juncture to note that the formation of a gap 62when the device 10 is in its natural state is not a prerequisite forefi'ective operation and use of this device. It is necasary, however,that the device I0 be so constructed that arms 38 and 40 will at leastbe permitted yield should material such as an intestine become disposedwithin the loop 34, such that removal of the arms 38 and 40 about theintestine will be greatly facilitated.

The form of my invention shown in FIGS. 4, S and 6 presents a generallyU-shaped loop 134 having a bight 136 and a pair of arms I38 andextending upwardly therefrom. A stem I74 integral with loop 134 dependsfrom the bight 136 for disposition within the uterus mouth 32. Each arm138 and 140 has an upper head 142 and I44, respectively, for dispositionin the mouths 26 and 28 of the fallopian tubes 22 and 24 substantiallyas shown in FIG. 5. Bulged portions 146 and 148 engage the walls 16 and18 of the uterus, and outwardly bowed stretches 156 and 160 are disposedfor contact with walls 16 and 18 upon contraction of the uterinemuscles. Structure for preventing the arms 138 and 140 from overlappingduring said contraction of the walls 16 and 18 comprises the samecomponents as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3.

It is particularly noteworthy at this juncture that during extensivetesting and research on my invention, it was noticed that having one ormore of the bands 64 and 66 made of metal augmented the contraceptiveproperties of my device such that significantly improved results wereobtained. Particularly, using copper as the base metal for the bandsprovided the most significant improvement over those devices using othermaterials for the bands.

The instant invention provides a device which is prepared for even thatrare occasion when it may be pushed through the uterine wall duringinsertion. By retaining the basic looped design of my earlier inventionswhich helped solve the expulsion problem and yet providing a releasableclosed loop within its structure, my instant invention is a device whichmay be used with confidence of effectiveness and without fear ofresponse to muscular activity of the uterus. Band 66 fits snugly 75injury.

I claim:

1. A device for intrauterine use comprising:

a generally U-shaped loop having a bight for disposition across thecervix and a pair of arms extending upwardly from the bight,

each arm having a head for disposition in the mouth of a correspondingfallopian tube,

there being an outwardly bulged portion in each arm respectivelyadjacent said bight disposed for engagement with the uterus and foractuation inwardly by the latter at the zones of engagement therebetweenduring contraction of the uterine muscles; and

structure on said arms remote from said bight for preventing overlappingand crossing of the arms at said structure in response to muscularactivity of the uterus,

said structure and said arms forming a closed ring when the device is inthe uterus,

said structure being releasable, presenting an open ring when the armsare pemiitted to spread apart at said structure,

said structure including a protuberance on one of the arms extendingtoward the other of said arms, and

a protuberance-receiving means on the other of said arms.

2. A device for intrauterine use as claimed in claim 1,

said one arm being provided with a band,

the protuberance being on the band.

3. A device for intrauterine use as claimed in claim 2,

said other arm being provided with a band,

said protuberance-receiving means being an opening in the band of theother arm.

4. A device for intrauterine use as claimed in claim 3, at least one ofsaid bands being metal.

5. A device for intrauterine use as claimed in claim 1,

said other arm being provided with a band,

said protuberance-receiving means being an opening in the band.

6. In an intrauterine device having a pair of interconnected armsprovided with juxtaposed portions remote from the interconnection of thearms to present a closed loop when the portions are juxtaposed,structure on said arms at said portions for preventing overlapping andcrossing of the arms, said structure including:

a protuberance on one of the arms extending toward the other of saidarms; and

protuberance-receiving means on the other of said arms releasablyaccepting said protuberance to thereby permit said arms to move apart atsaid portions thereof and present an open loop.

7. In an intrauterine device as claimed in claim 6, said one arm beingprovided with a band, the protuberance being on the band.

8. In an intrauterine device as claimed in claim 7, said other arm beingprovided with a band, said protuberance-receiving means being an openingin the band of the other arm.

9. In an intrauterine device as claimed in claim 6, said other arm beingprovided with a band, said protuberance-receiving means being an openingin the band.

1. A device for intrauterine use comprising: a generally U-shaped loophaving a bight for disposition across the cervix and a pair of armsextending upwardly from the bight, each arm having a head fordisposition in the mouth of a corresponding fallopian tube, there beingan outwardly bulged portion in each arm respectively adjacent said bightdisposed for engagement with the uterus and for actuation inwardly bythe latter at the zones of engagement therebetween during contraction ofthe uterine muscles; and structure on said arms remote from said bightfor preventing overlapping and crossing of the arms at said structure inresponse to muscular activity of the uterus, said structure and saidarms forming a closed ring when the device is in the uterus, saidstructure being releasable, presenting an open ring when the arms arepermitted to spread apart at said structure, said structure including aprotuberance on one of the arms extending toward the other of said arms,and a protuberance-receiving means on the other of said arms.
 2. Adevice for intrauterine use as claimed in claim 1, said one arm beingprovided with a band, the protuberance being on the band.
 3. A devicefor intrauterine use as claimed in claim 2, said other arm beingprovided with a band, said protuberance-receiving means being an openingin the band of the other arm.
 4. A device for intrauterine use asclaimed in claim 3, at least one of said bands being metal.
 5. A devicefor intrauterine use as claimed in claim 1, said other arm beingprovided with a band, said protuberance-receiving means being an openingin the band.
 6. In an intrauterine device having a pair ofinterconnected arms provided with juxtaposed portions remote from theinterconnection of the arms to present a closed loop when the portionsare juxtaposed, structure on said arms at said portions for preventingoverlapping and crossing of the arms, said structure including: aprotuberance on one of the arms extending toward the other of said arms;and protuberance-receiving means on the other of said arms releasablyaccepting said protuberance to thereby permit said arms to move apart atsaid portions thereof and present an open loop.
 7. In an intrauterinedevice as claimed in claim 6, said one arm being provided with a band,the protuberance being on the band.
 8. In an intrauterine device asclaimed in claim 7, said other arm being provided with a band, saidprotuberance-receiving means being an opening in the band of the otherarm.
 9. In an intrauterine device as claimed in claim 6, said other armbeing provided with a band, said protuberance-receiving means being anopening in the band.